The memorial ended without much issue. Awkwardness, however, still hung in the air. Caleb remained in the garden with the other children after everything was said and done. This was where Jake busied himself atop his noble steed by masquerading as a knight fighting an evil shaman played by his sister. The two were locked in imaginary combat that was occasionally interrupted by a silly one-liner or equally as ridiculous joke. The hippocampus was usually the one who had to pause for a laugh though Jake usually played along as well. The two were becoming fast friends from the looks of it. This much was noted by Caleb as he began to busy himself by cleaning up their lunch. 

"I can help you with that!" Kayden shook off the sorrowful morning mood in the same manner that the other children had. Neither she nor Caleb denied seeing Jake and Skyla cry to themselves though. Both scattered to opposite sides of the garden once outside to mourn their father on their own terms. There was quiet acceptance between Caleb, Kayden, and Edward to remain silent on that matter. Losing a parent had to be difficult and Mary was probably having an equally rough time without having to worry about her children too. "Daddy says that you're hurt and you should probably rest anyway. Besides, I bet Aunt Mary will give me a cookie for helping you!" 

"Oh, thank you." Caleb could barely blink as a stack of sandwich plates were pulled from his hands. He wasn't sure whether the girl was helping for a reward or simply because she wanted to. He was grateful either way though. His body still felt sluggish and heavy whereas he was still tired from being awoken during the night before. Most of his injuries, however, had thankfully been reduced to minor sores and aches. He would hopefully be feeling well enough to depart soon. The quicker that he had recovered was the quicker that they could head back to the ocean for Edward's sake. Not even that, but it was also the less time that he spent away from Eagletown and its mysterious plague. "Oh no. . The pearl!" 

This comment got the younger girl's attention and her head tilted slightly. "The pearl?"

"We never recovered our pearl from that thief!" Caleb wanted to smack himself for forgetting, but there would be no point in that. He acknowledged this much as the front door of the house swung open from the opposite side of the garden's gate. Marrathew, unbeknownst to Caleb, had returned in search of a mage that could cast the spell that would hopefully save Thorn City. "I can't return home without it. . That was a gift for the Elder Eagle!"

"The Elder Eagle? That sounds weird. . I've never heard of an 'elder eagle' or even an 'eagle elder' coming to Thorn City before." There was a giggle from the younger girl as she turned towards the back door. "Don't worry though! I'll just ask Daddy to get another one for you. He used to get pearls all the time from that man who smelled weird and always visited the house covered in red. I'm sure he could get you another one! Daddy says that he owes you anyway!" 

"But—" Caleb sought to deny the offer only to find himself pausing at Kayden's remark. [i]A man who smelled weird and was usually covered in red?[/i] Surely she wasn't referring to one of John Nieve Junior's shady business "associates", was she? Kayden wasn't much younger than himself. She must have had a clue regarding her father's suspicious activity. Even so, Caleb wanted to reject her offer. He was already getting a customized silver short sword and surely that would be enough to pay the debt. It would have probably been easier to go along with the younger girl's words for now, however. ". . R-Right, thank you, Kayden. Let me help you take those inside."